In a late-breaking development for Apple Watch, a U.S. appeals court has granted a temporary stay on an import ban affecting some smartwatches with blood-oxygen monitoring features, according to a new Reuters report. This move comes amidst an ongoing patent dispute between Apple and medical technology firm Masimo.
Apple yesterday filed an emergency appeal to temporarily lift the Apple Watch sales and import ban that went into effect after the Biden administration refused to veto the halt order. Apple requested this temporary pause on the sales ban until the United States Customs and Border Protection decides whether redesigned versions of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 still infringe on Masimo’s blood oxygen sensor patents.
Masimo had accused Apple of infringing upon its intellectual property related to pulse oximetry, a technology that measures blood oxygen saturation levels. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) subsequently issued an import ban on certain Apple Watch models equipped with this technology, including the popular Series 6 and subsequent models, and all generations of the Apple Watch Ultra.
Apple, however, vehemently contested the ITC’s decision and filed an emergency appeal, seeking a stay on the ban while the legal battle unfolds. On December 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted Apple’s request, effectively pausing the sales and import ban until Wednesday, January 10. As a reminder, the US Customs and Border Protection has until January 12 to decide whether redesigned versions of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 would circumvent Masimo’s contested patents.
This means that Apple Watches with pulse oximetry functionality, including the Series 9 and Ultra 2, remain available for purchase within the United States. While Apple’s online store currently reflects the paused import status, the watches are still readily accessible through major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, and Walmart.
It’s important to note that the stay only applies to future imports and sales. Previously sold Apple Watch units are unaffected by the ITC’s ruling, and the ban does not extend to the Apple Watch SE model, which lacks the pulse oximeter feature. Apple will still be able to service and repair all units of the affected models sold before the ban went into effect.
The legal saga between Apple and Masimo continues, with a jury trial in California ending in a mistrial earlier this year. Additionally, Apple has filed its own patent infringement lawsuit against Masimo in Delaware, further complicating the already intricate web of claims and counterclaims.
For now, however, Apple can breathe a sigh of relief as their coveted wearable devices remain accessible across the country. The courtroom drama, however, is far from over.
